Tippy Tay opened to a lot of fanfare when it first launched in Melbourne, and the initial write-ups and gorgeous photos quickly put it on my bucket list. That said, more recent Google reviews were mixed, so I went in today with slightly tempered expectations. I’m happy to say Tippy Tay exceeded them on all fronts. The ambiance is fantastic — vibrant, stylish, and full of energy without feeling chaotic. The food was genuinely delicious, beautifully presented, and served in generous portions — the kind that makes you feel you’ve truly had a proper dining experience rather than a “small-plate showcase.” What really elevated the experience, though, was the service. Our server, Nicola, was outstanding. Warm, friendly, down-to-earth, and genuinely attentive without ever being intrusive. She made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down and handled everything with ease and professionalism. Easily one of the best servers we’ve had the pleasure of dining with in Melbourne. Based on our experience, Tippy Tay deserves far more credit than some of the lower reviews suggest. We left impressed, satisfied, and already planning a return visit. Highly recommended.

Food and Drinks are great. But there was one worker just minus all the points of the dining experience. She kept coming every 10 mins in our last 45 minutes of the booking, to tell us we need to leave at 7:30pm, and took our dishes away even there is still food on the dishes.

Was looking forward to visiting Tippy Tay but unfortunately the experience fell way below expectations. I’ll break down my experience below: * LOCATION: The restaurant is located at the back of Garden State, and to enter, you must line up with the rest of the crowd getting their IDs checked. When I got to the front, I was then directed to a girl with an iPad who checked my booking then just told me to walk to the back where the restaurant is. This process felt like a waste of time. Also, when my sister directly approached the girl with the iPad, a bouncer aggressively asked for her ID despite the obvious that she had a restaurant booking. An unpleasant start to the evening to say the least. * BOOKING: Upon reaching the restaurant, another waiter checked our booking and told us our table was not ready despite my sister getting a text at 7:40pm saying our table was ready. We then waited 20 mins for our table and we were seated at 8pm for a 7:30pm booking. * SERVICE: One of the better elements of the night was that our main waitress was nice and attentive. She did accidentally get one of our orders wrong and apologised, although the waitress who brought out the food questioned us repeatedly as if we ordered wrong. * FOOD: The quality of the food was not up to standard and not worth the expensive price. I have attached photos to back up all my comments. Entree - the focaccia was stale and definitely not fresh with an overly chewy crust. We were served 4 pieces without any accompanying olive oil, balsamic or butter. The olives were overly salty and sour. Mains - the mezze maniche pasta is supposed to be a large tube-shaped pasta but our plate came without a single piece of pasta in-tact. It looks like it was overcooked and all the pieces of pasta were broken into flat pieces. The wood fire pizza had large, burnt areas on the crust which a good wood-fire pizza should not have if it was cooked at the correct temperature. Additionally the bottom of the pizza was completely soggy, making for an unpleasant texture. Dessert - The tiramisu was fine but nothing to rave about. One of the only positives about this establishment is the decor and buzzy vibe. I do not recommend visiting if you are after high-quality food that’s made with care and pride.

This is a perfect place to visit with family or friends. It truly didn't disappoint me in terms of food and ambiance. The atmosphere is very beautiful and lively, filled with vibrant colors. The food is excellent, with plenty of options to choose from. The pizza was the best I’ve had, and the tiramisu explained why it’s so highly praised and talked about. I’ll definitely go back just for the tiramisu! One thing to keep in mind is that it tends to get quite busy, so it's recommended to make a reservation in advance.

Tippy Tay – Melbourne We dined at Tippy Tay and chose the $70 per person “Feed Me” menu — an excellent decision. Every course was beautifully presented and full of flavour, showcasing the restaurant’s vibrant Italian flair. The meal began with warm focaccia and creamy stracciatella paired with roasted asparagus and a sunflower seed pesto — absolutely delicious and a perfect start. The salt and pepper calamari fritti followed, crispy and tender, served with a punchy garlic aioli and fresh lemon that lifted the flavours beautifully. The cacio e pepe arancini were rich, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned, complemented by a touch of aioli and Parmesan. Next came the Amatriciana rigatoni — cooked al dente with guanciale, tomato, basil, black pepper, and Parmesan — a comforting, classic dish done exceptionally well. The Padellino pizza with white anchovy, olive tapenade, and capers was small but packed with big, briny flavours. The pork cotoletta was juicy and crisp, paired with a smooth seeded mustard cream, and the insalata toscana was a refreshing finish — basil, Parmesan, and lemon vinaigrette tying everything together nicely. The interiors are stunning — colourful, cozy, and full of personality, with that warm Italian energy that makes you want to linger. The service started a bit slow as we were left unattended at first, but once we were assigned a dedicated waitress, the experience turned around completely — she was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything ran smoothly. Overall, Tippy Tay delivers a wonderful dining experience — delicious food, inviting atmosphere, and a menu that truly celebrates Italian comfort with flair. I’d happily return to try more of the menu (and that stracciatella again — it was perfect).